Typewriting machine



May 2l, 1935. E. B. HEss TYPWRITING MCHINEI Original Filed May 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 2l, 1935. E; B, HESS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Fil-ed May 5, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 I HMQM May 2l, 1935. E. B. HESS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed May 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 www dzmmjjss,

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Patented May 21, 1935 l PATENT OFFICE l TYPEWRITING MACHINE Edward B. Hess, orlando, Fla., Typewriter Company, Inc., corporation of New York assignor to Royal New York, N. Y., a

original application May 5, 1933, serial No.

669,611. ber 11, 1933,

- l 10 Claims.

' This invention relates to new and useful improvements in typewriting machines generally, although more particularly to a type action therefor.

This application constitutes a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 669,611 led May 5, 1933 for improvements in typewriting machines. l l l,

Among the several objectsof this invention are to provide a tyme action which does not cause any stress or strain throughout the entire structure, which is noise-reducing in its action, which will insure uniform impacts by the types against the platen, and which is constructed to 15 afford a cushion effect when the key lever isdepressed by the operator.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature ofthe invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a detail vertical sectional view through a typewriting machine, and showing my improved type action in its normal position,

, Figure 2 is a somewhat similar view showing the parts of the type action in different positions,

Figure 3 is a perspectivefview of the type bar, the heel section and the type section being shown in separated relation, i

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the key lever, the fulcrum section, the spring, and the power section being shown in separated relation,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view partly in section showing a modied form of type bar,

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken .on the line 6--6 of Figure 5, and

Figure '7 `is a. diagrammatic v iew illustrating 40 the different movements of the type bar from its position of rest to its position of engagement with the platen. v

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a platen C, a shifting segment F, a type bar G, and a key lever H.

The type bars G are mounted in the usual slots in the segment F and are pivotally mounted at their heels in said segment by a pivot rod 5. These type bars are normally supported in rest position by a head rest 6. Each type bar comprises a type section 1 and a heel section 8, the former being provided with a type head 9. The inner end of the type section 'I is provided 'with a longitudinallyextending recess I which forms resultant side walls I I, II. The outer end-0f of the heel section 8 and .Divided and this application Decem- Serial N0. l701,893

the heel section 8 is located in the recess III and is pivotally connected to thewalls II by a hinge pin I2. The outer end of the heel section 8 is vformed with a longitudinally extending recess I3 forming a resultant bifurcated end comprising upper and lower arms I4, I5 having outwardly Vdiverging edges, the inner ends of said edges merging with a circular seat I6, the circumference of the seat extending more than 180. 'A substantially V-shaped wire spring Il is disposed within the recess I3, the arms of the spring being ilexed outwardly and engaging the diverging edges of the arms I4, I5. The spring II between its arms is formed into a substantially circular head I8 which fits within the circular 4seat I6. The free ends of the arms of the spring I'I cooperate with the top and bottom walls of the recess i6 to yieldably retain the type section lf ,against swinging movement relative to the heel section 8. The inner end ofthe bottom of the type section I normally lies against the bottom 'edge thereby functions to retain the type section 'I against swinging movement in a downward direction relative to the heel section 6. The inner end of the top of the type '25 section 'I, however, is cut away to afford clearance whereby the section will swing upwardly relative to the heel section. The lower arm of the spring il is slightly longer than the upper arm thereof and consequently this longer arm functions in normally retaining the type section I against upward swinging movement relative tof the heel Section 8. f The key lever H which comprises a power sec-I tion I9 and a fulcrum section 26, is fulcrumed on a shaft 2I which extends across the machine. The inner end of the power section I9 is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 22` for receiving the outer end of the fulcrum section '20. -The recess 22 forms resultant walls* 23, 23 and the outer end of the iulcrum section 20 is hingedly connected to said walls by a hinge pin 24. The power section I9 at the inner end of the recess 22 is beveled to form a V-shaped end 25 having upper and lower inclined faces. The outer end of the fulcrum section 2E] is'inwardly beveled to form an angular recess 26. The angle of the recess 26 is greater than the angle of they-shaped end 25.` The upper bevel of the end 25 normally engages the upper bevel of the seat 26 to retain the power section I9 against upward, swinging movement relative to the iulcrum section 26. The lower bevel of the end 25 is normally spaced from the lower bevel of the seat26 so as to permit a limited downward '55 when the type bar its fullest extent.

swinging movement of the power section I9 relative to the fulcrum section 20 immediately following the key lever reaching the lowermost limit of its depression movement. In order to yieldably retain the power section I9 from such pivotal movement, I have provided a U-shaped Wire spring 21. This spring is disposed within the recess 22, one arm thereof resting against the bottom of the recess and the upper arm extending across the adjacent ends of the sections I9 and 20 and bearing against the lower edges thereof. n The type action includes connections between the type bar and the'key lever. These connections include a front link 28 which is pivotally mounted in a radial slot located in the under face of a segmental supporting bracket 29'which is disposed above the key lever H and in front of the platen C. A pull link'3I 1s pivotally connected at its front end to the rear end of the front link 28, and the rear end of said pull link `3l is pivotally connected as at 32 to the heel of the associated type bar at a point below the pivot thereof and in a substantially vertical plane therewith. A draw link 33 has its upper end pivotally connected to the front link 28 and its lower end pivotally connected to the fulcrum section 20 of the associated key lever H. The' key lever H extends forwardly through the usual comb guide 34. 'I'he front link 28 is balanced by a coil spring 3 5 having its upper end connected to the forward end of the front link 28 and its lower end connected to the comb guide support, and this spring functions to return the type bar to its normal position of rest upon release of the key lever H.

Mounted on the segment F is an abutment 36, preferably metal, for each type bar G. This abutment is positioned so that 4when the type bar is swung upwardly said abutment will be engaged by the heel section 8 of the type bar at a point preferably substantially midway between the fulcrum 5 of the type bar and the hinge pin I2 which hingedly connects the type bar sections 'I and 8 to thereby cause the type section 'I to` swing rearwardly about the hinge pin I2 and against the tension of the V-spring I'I into printing contact with the platen C.

In the operation of my invention as thus fai` described, the operator depresses a key lever H and the associated front link 28 is swung downwardly from the full line position shown in Figure l to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. the sections I9, 20 of the key lever remaining in longitudinal alinement. During this downward movementof the front link, the pull link 3| causes the type bar G to be swung upwardly from the full line position shown in,Figure 1 to the rst dotted line position shown in Figure 2, the sections 1, 8-of the bar remaining in longitudinal alinement. During this period' of time the motion of the type bar is/accelerated, and

-reaches its dotted line position, as shown in Figure 2, it is in front of and in spaced relation to the platen and is at the end of its accelerated movement. At this time the pivot 32 of the pull link 3| is in alinement With the pivot 5 of the type bar and with the pivotal connection between the front end ofthe pull link 3l and the front link 28. Thus the connections form a toggle and are now in locked relation. Furthermore,\at this time the fulcrum section of the key lever has been depressed to By reference to Figure 7 it will be seen that the type bar has an accelerated movement from its point of rest W to its position indicated at X. After the type bar reaches the position X it continues to move toward the platen C under momentum-caused by said accelerated speed travel. When the type bar moves from the point X to the point Y where the heel section 8 engages the abutment 36, the engagement of the type bar against the abutment causes the type section I to swing rearwardly about the hinge pin I2 to the printing position Z where it contacts thc platen C. The type bar during its momentum periodfrom X to Y necessarily has its speed travel decreased, but by forming the Atype bar in hinged sections and providing the abutment 36 for engagement by the heel section, the type section 'I will be caused to be given an increased speed travel which will not only insure proper prin-ting but also reduce the impact noise now common in present commercial machines. A stop which is usually employed for limiting the downward movement of the key lever, is eliminated as the key lever cannot be moved downwardly after the toggle links have reached their locked positions. During the depression of the key lever both the power and fulcrum sections I9, 20 are retained against relative pivotal movement; but just as soon as the lever reaches the lower limit of its movement, and while the type bar is moving from the point X to the point Y, the power section 28 will be swung downwardly for alimited extent to therebyfunction as a cushion for the operator's stroke and avoid the use of the rubber caps now employed on the ngerpieces of key levers.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have illustrated a modified form of type bar. The outer end of the heel section 8a is disposed within the recess IIl of the type section 'I and the upper edge of said end normally lies against the top wall which defines the recess, whereas the lower edge 8b of said end is spaced a considerable distance above the bottom wall of said recess to permit the type vsec- ,tion to swing about the hinge pin I2 in one direction only. A coil spring 8c is disposed under the inner end of the heel section 8a, one end being secured to the heel section and the other end to the type section, the points of connections being on opposite sides of the hinge pin I2 to yieldably retain the type section 'I against swinging movement relative to the heel section 1a.

Fromrthe foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a type bar comprising two hingedly connected sections, the type section being normally retained against swinging movement in one `direction relative to the heel section but being iiexible in the opposite direction; that the type bar sections are connected in a manner to avoid lateral vibration of the type section relative to the heel section; that both sections of the type bar in its printing stroke move as a unit until the heel section engages the abutment; that the type bar printing movement of approximately 91 is divided into three successive periods, a comparatively long accelerated speed travel from W to X of approximately 68, a shorter momentum travel from X to Y of approximately 19, and a still shorter accelerated travel from Y to Z of approximatelyfP; thatwhen the type bar reaches the end X of the rst accelerated movement the toggle link connections are in locked position and the key lever has completed full depression; that at this time the type bar meets its rst resistance because its movement is somewhat checked owing to the continued movement thereof breaking the toggle; that a second resistance is encountered by.

aooaces the type bar by reason of its meeting the first resistance results in a reduction of its speed travel during its momentum period which extends from the point X to the pointW; that the typebar meets its second resistance at a time when the speed travel and power of penetration has been reduced; that the type section is then swung rearwardly from the point Y to the point Z, the abutment cooperating with the heel section of the type bar and the type section swinging rearwardly relatively to the heel section to effect not only a reduction in impact noise but also eiect a better platen impact; that the type bar by meeting with both resistances during its printing stroke results in a marked noise-reduction relative to the noise created by pivoted type bars in the present commercial machines; that noise reduction is also aiorded because of the small amount of pressure required to operate the key levers; that the sectional key levers function as cushions when depressed by the operator and thereby eliminate the necessityof the key lever cushion caps which are now employed on commercial machines, and that there is a continuous train of mechanism from the key lever to the printing point, and that by constructing the key lever and the type bar in spring-hinged sections, there is no strain at any time on the key lever, platen, pivot of type bar, or on the nger of the operator. I do not limit myself to the exact divisions oi type barv excursion shown in diagrammatic Figure 'l as the spacing or intervals between X, Y, and Z may be varied to afford dierent results of acceleration and deceleration between X, Y and Z. I claim:-

l. lln a type action for typewriting machines, a platen, a type bar'ulcrumed at its heel to swing upwardly towards the platen from a substantially horizontal rest pition, said bar comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections and a spring cooperating with the sections for normally retaining the type section against swinging movement relative to the heel section, a key lever, an abutment engageable by the heel section immediately prior to the type engaging the platen to cause the type section to swing rearwardly relative to the heel section and engage the platen, and operating connections between the type bar and the key lever including a pull link pivoted to the heel of the type bar at a point below and iny a substantially vertical plane with the type bar pivot and movable to a position prior to the bar engaging the abutment in which the link pivot and the type bar pivot lie in a substantially horizontal plane. i

2. In a type action for typewrlting machines, a platen, a. type bar fulcrumed at its heel to swing upwardly towards the platen from a substantially horizontal rest position, said bar comprising hingedly connected type and heel'sections and a spring cooperating with the sections for normally retaining the type section against pivotal movement relative to the heel section, a key lever, an abutment engageable by the heel section immediately prior to the type engaging the platen to cause the type section to swing rearwardly relative to the heel section and engage the platen, and toggle link connections between the type bar and the key lever for moving the type bar upon full depression of said lever to a toggle-locked position prior to the bar engaging the abutment, said connections imparting an accelerated movement to the type bar until the links are in locked position,

the type bar then moving by momentum until the abutment is engaged by the bar whereupon the type section will swing rearwardly relative to the heel section to contact the platen.

3. In a type action for typewriting machines, a platen, a type bar fulcrumed at its heel to swing upwardly through an arc of approximately 90 degrees towards the platen from a substantially horizontal rest position, said bar comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections and a spring cooperating with the sections for normally retaining the type section against pivotal movement relative to the heel section, a key lever, an abutment engageable by the heel section immediately prior to the type engaging the platen to cause the type section to swing rearwardly through an arc of approximately 3 degrees relative to the heel section and engage the platen, and toggle link connections between the type bar and lthe key lever for moving the type bar upon full depression of said lever through an arc ot approximately 68 degrees to a toggle-locked position prior to the bar engaging the abutment, said connections imparting an accelerated movement to the type bar until the links are in locked msition, the type bar then moving by momentum through an arc of approximately 19 degrees until the abutment is engaged by the bar whereupon the type section will swing rearwardly relative to the heel section to contact the platen.

d. The combination of a pivoted type bar for typewriting machines comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections, the e pivot being located adjacent the type bar pivot, and an abutment separate from the type bar and located adjacentboth pivots for engagement by the heel section.

5. The combination of a pivoted type bar for typewriting machines comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections, the hinge pivot being located adjacent the type bar pivot, and an abutment for the type bar located adjacent both pivots, the heel section being limited in its travel by engaging the abutment while the type section swings over said abutment.

6. The combination with a pivoted type bar for typewriting machines comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections, the hinge pivot being located adiacent the type bar pivot, of an abutment-for the type bar located adjacent both pivots, and means for operating the type bar whereby the heel section will have two successive movements in its travel, viz., an accelerating movement and a decelerating movement and will at the end of the latter engage the abutment.

'7. A type bar comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections, the inner end of the type section being provided with a longitudinally extending recess to receive and house the outer end of the heel section, cooperating stop shoulders on said sections to limit the swinging movement in one direction of the type section relative to the heel section, and a spring housed within said recess and cooperating with both sections to normally and yieldably retain the type section against swinging movement relative to the heel section.

8. ln a type action for typewriting machines, a platen; a type bar pivoted to swing upwardly and rearwardly towards the platen, said type bar comprising type and heel sections hingedly connected by a pin, and. a stop and spring cooperating with the sections for normally retaining the type section in longitudinal alinement with the heel section; and a fixed abutment engagegable by the heel section and located at a. point substantially midway between the type bar pivot and the hinge pin to cause the type section to swing rearwardly against the tension of the spring and engage the platen. v

9. In a type action for typewriting machines, a platen; a type bar pivoted to swing upwardly and rearwardly towards the platen, said type bar comprising type and heel sections hingedly connected by a pin, and a stop and spring cooperating with the sections for normally retaining the type section in longitudinal alinement with the heel section; and a xed metallic abutment engageable by the heel section and located at a point substantially midway between the type bar pivot and the hinge pin to cause the type section to swing rearwardly against the tensio engagethe platen. ,f

10. The combination with a platen, of a pivoted type bar comprising hingedly connected type and heel sections, the hinge pivot being located adjacent the type bar pivot, an abutment for the heel section, and means including a, toggle link for swinging the type bar towards the platen and the abutment whereby the type bar will rst move as a unit and have successive accelerating and decelerating movements and whereby an accelerating movement will be imparted to the type section subsequent to the heel section engaging the abutment.

, EDWARD B. MSS.

of the spring and t 

